USB Interface for Parallel LCD
The project shows you how to add a USB interface to a standard HD44780 compatible LCD and emulates the CrystalFontz serial protocol over a virtual COM port created by the FTDI chip. This enables you to use already existing software to speak to the LCD, for example the popular program LCD Smartie. The circuit uses an AVR microcontroller, ATtiny2313, and a USB chip from FTDI. The usb chip creates a virtual COM port on the computer. It has an external EEPROM programmable via USB to store information and settings. You can for example have the chip report back the name of your project when you plug it in.
The backlight and contrast can be controlled from the computer. They are each connected to one of the PWM outputs on the AVR. Since the CrystalFontz protocol support software control of contrast and backlight, this seemed like a nice feature to add. Only LED backlights are supported, no EL backlights. The backlight can be powered from the USB port if its current draw is less than about 420 mA. If you need more, an external supply can be connected. Download: Source code and schematic.
